Laser therapy system and method of cutting and vaporizing a tissue body

摘要

A laser therapy system and method of cutting and vaporizing a tissue body which includes a fiber optic which is inserted into the lumen of a catheter and operable between an extended position wherein a distal end portion of the fiber optic is positioned to cut and vaporize a tissue body and a retracted position wherein the fiber optic is received within the lumen of the catheter. The catheter incorporates at a distal end portion a means for removing attached tissue fragments and the like from the distal end portion of the fiber optic such that tissue fragments stuck to the distal end portion of the fiber optic can be removed while the catheter and fiber remain at the treatment site. This improved system eliminates the need to completely remove the fiber optic during the cutting and vaporization procedure in order to remove the fragments and debris.